A couple of weeks ago, a Lyon alumna brought up the topics of intelligence and wisdom. She asked, first, if they were the same or different; second, if they were gifts or could be acquired; and, third, if a person could be wise if he separates himself from God. Meaty questions, no? Let’s think about them. Are intelligence and wisdom the same or different?
Education. Batesville has a lot to be proud of in this realm. Though it still needs to grow, its Advanced Placement (AP) program is becoming one of many bright spots. I believe strongly in the AP program. Run by the Educational Testing Service, it has established teacher-developed national standards for excellence in many high school subjects.
This is for you “baby daddies” out there — for you and for those who know and love a man who has become a “baby daddy.” It’s Father’s Day, after all, and being a “baby daddy” seems to be a growing form of fatherhood. For those who don’t know the term, it describes a man who fathers a child when neither he nor the mother intends to marry or even stay together. I understand the cultural changes behind becoming a baby daddy. Some of them are positive changes.
What makes you happy? Not happy for a few hours or a few days, but generally happy, happy most of the time? Two recent articles report on studies of happiness, a long-term study at Harvard and recent survey by Pew. These come on top of other surveys and studies, some in the new field of Positive Psychology. Not all the findings make a lot of sense, and they certainly don’t always agree. Let’s consider some of the findings and see if we can come up with Batesville’s own key to happiness. Let’s eliminate the studies that don’t make sense.
Now that the City Council has approved Batesville’s Historic District ordinance, I thought I’d try to relieve some of the fears spread around while the program was before the City Council. Here are seven of the most frequently heard fears and the facts that should allay them. I Fear: Some have heard that the ordinance will bring costs property owners can’t afford. Facts: 1) No one has produced a single example of that having happened in the twenty Arkansas cities that already have Historic District Commissions (HDCs).
This is an open letter to next month’s graduating seniors.
Dear Seniors, If you want to succeed in life but aren’t quite certain how to, that’s because life offers you different options. In fact, life’s a lot like “Let’s Make a Deal.” You’re about to have to choose Door 1, Door 2, or Door 3.
Downtown property owners have a great opportunity to protect their investments this coming Tuesday, but a couple of naysayers are trying to prevent Batesville from moving forward. The opportunity lies in the ordinance before city council that will authorize Batesville’s Historic District Commission to start operating. When it does so, Batesville will become the 21st city in the state to have such a commission. The role of the commission will be to protect and encourage investment in the downtown commercial district.
Yet another national columnist lambasted today’s college students in a magazine I read this week. It seems they’re “self-absorbed” and thus “resentful” of high standards, expecting at least a B just for showing up in class and thus uninterested in really developing their skills and capacities.
